I am John McGraw and I am running in the Republican primary on March 17 for Clermont County Commissioner. I am currently Chairperson of the Board of Union Township Trustees.
I want to bring this experience to the county level and lead the region in economic development, new jobs and improve our core services. We need a strong justice system, better roads, and more opportunities for our residents. As a Trustee in Union Township, our team has added over $300 million in new development, added thousands of new jobs, and Union Township is the only township with nationally accredited police, fire, 911 communications and service departments.
My first order of business will be to restore trust in our government. Clermont County government has a history of corruption and many residents are concerned about illegal acts that have occurred at the county level. Recently our county engineer pled guilty to receiving improper compensation and resigned. The Water Department had a case of theft and had to fire an employee. The head of Permit Central was forced out due to an investigation. A former County Commissioner pled guilty to tampering with records and in recent years, we had two other County Commissioners resign due to criminal charges. Demanding honesty, integrity, and fairness in government and eliminating conflicts of interest will be top priorities and we must safeguard against more corruption and illegal acts. I would start asking for audits on each county agency and get full financial reports.
I also want to improve customer service and increase efficiency. This can be done by eliminating wasteful spending and unnecessary bureaucracy while investing in better services and infrastructure. The current Commissioners have added unneeded staff aid positions spending over $100,000 per position when you factor in salaries and benefits. These aids also permitted to work on re-election campaigns. If we are going to add staff, it should be at the jail and for treatment programs. The county also wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars defending lawsuits that should have never happened. At the same time over $300,000 was spent on land for a new engineer’s garage located in a flood plane and now the building cannot be built there. Proper due diligence and one visit to the property would tell you not to buy it. We need efficient government and fiscal responsibility.
We need to bring opportunity to our forgotten communities. I have been meeting with residents from Bethel, Felicity, New Richmond, Owensville, and many areas that feel underserved and say their infrastructure, business districts and homes are decaying. They need infrastructure such as water and sewer, natural gas and internet. Simple things like making sure a fire hydrant works are concerns of residents. They are concerned about heroin and fentanyl and want more treatment centers. They also take tremendous pride in their communities and want to make sure great opportunities abound for their families in the future.
In the last Presidential primary in 2016, only 41 percent of the registered voters in Clermont County came out to vote. Although Clermont County, by a large margin, votes conservatively, only 34 percent of the voters are declared to be Republican. Over 57 percent are declared to be nonparty voters. Make your vote count and take part in this primary on March 17.
I plan to foster teamwork between our county government and local townships and villages. The only way to show respect for our residents is by engaging them in key decisions, being transparent in all matters, and providing fast and responsive answers. I would be honored to serve you and I ask for your vote.